How to Pronounce Tom Courtney
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Aug 17, 1933 Newark, New Jersey, United States 90 years old
athletics competitor
LeoTom Courtney - Place of Birth, Date of Birth, Age, Wiki, Facts, Net Worth, Birthday, Biography and Family
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About Tom Courtney
- Thomas "Tom" William Courtney (born August 17, 1933) is a retired American athlete, winner of two gold medals in the 1956 Olympic Games Tom Courtney came into national prominence while a student at Fordham University, winning the 1955 NCAA 880 yd (805 m) title. An AAU champion in 400 m at 1956 and in 880 yd (805 m) at 1957 and 1958, Courtney had a memorable duel with Derek Johnson of Great Britain in the 1956 Olympic 800 m final.
- Johnson took a narrow lead with 40 meters to go, but finally Courtney won by 0.13 seconds, and collapsed with exhaustion.
- He later wrote: "It was a new kind of agony for me.
- My head was exploding, my stomach ripping and even the tips of my fingers ached.
- The only thing I could think was, 'If I live, I will never run again.'"The medal ceremony had to be delayed for an hour while he and Johnson recovered.
- But Courtney did run again.
- He was the anchorman on the gold medal 4 × 400 m relay team.
- He also set a world record of 1:46.8 in the 880 yd (805 m) on May 24, 1957. Courtney received a bachelor's degree from Fordham University in 1955, and since 1994, the (autographed) varsity jacket from his college track days hangs in a display case along with similar memorabilia from other great Fordham athletes, such as Vince Lombardi. Courtney's victory was the last in a series of four straight 800 meter gold medals by the US and the seventh overall to that point in time.
- He could be considered the end of the dynasty.
- Since then, the USA has only had one other male winner, Dave Wottle in 1972 and have only won four bronze medals.
